FOG Disposal Article

ABSTRACT

An article, a container, and a method for disposing of fat, oil, and/or grease (FOG). The article may include a top portion including a top opening and a perimeter rim, and a body portion connected to and below the top portion having, a continuous FOG-impermeable membrane and upper and lower body portions. The body portion may include a body middle surface dividing upper and lower body portions and may be placed on at least a portion of a surface. The lower body portion may be sized to fit within a drain. The container may include an integrally formed continuous outer shell including a partially hollow interior, a top part having a top opening, and liquid impermeable bottom and upper parts, and a middle part dividing the top and bottom parts and including at least one middle edge for placement on a first surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims benefit of priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/860,212, filed Jan. 2, 2018, which claimed benefit ofpriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/499,288, filed Sep. 29,2014, which claimed benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/021,033, filed Jul. 4, 2014, and the entiredisclosures of these applications are hereby incorporated by referencein this document.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention pertains to the field of articles for properly disposingof fat, oil, and/or grease (“FOG”). In particular, the invention relatesto articles for preventing FOG from clogging pipes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The kitchen is often a busy, hectic place where the stress of having toperform certain tasks within or at prescribed times is compounded bypotentially dangerous activities, such as handling hot objects andliquids. Properly disposing of common cooking byproduct FOG in its hotliquid form can be time-consuming and even dangerous. For example,handling and disposing of hot liquid FOG often entails the risk ofspillage from and/or “jumping” in small quantities out of a cookinginstrument, which can result in burns, damage to surrounding kitchenobjects, not to mention create an additional mess. On the other hand,waiting to dispose of FOG can be problematic because the FOG may cool,harden, and congeal to a cooking instrument (such as a frying pan),making cleaning and disposal more difficult. Due at least partly to thelack of attractive alternatives for properly disposing of FOG, FOG isunfortunately often poured in its liquid form down drains, where itflows into drainage pipes. Once in drainage pipes, the FOG cools,thickens, congeals, and sticks to the pipes, slowing water drainage, andeventually clogging and blocking flow altogether. This clogging andblogging causes substantial harm, such as destroying sceptic tanks,resulting in environmental damage (including soil and/or watercontamination) and health hazards, emanating noxious smells, andattracting insects and pests. Conventional methods of removing FOGbuildup in pipes are either unsatisfactory or costly. For example, thecommon practice of boiling and pouring hot water down the pipes onlytemporarily liquefies FOG, but does not prevent it from re-solidifyingfurther down the line, where it may cause the same problems. Similarlyineffective is the method of pouring detergent down drains along withFOG. Thus, pipes clogged by FOG must often be replaced, which mayrequire the services of a professional plumber.

Although several devices and methods have been created to try and solvethe problem of proper FOG disposal, there is still a need for devices,articles, and/or methods that would reduce the amount of time and stepsrequired to properly dispose of FOG in a safe, convenient, economical,and environmentally responsible manner, which would therefore provide adesirable alternative to pouring FOG down a drain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein is an article and a container and a method fordisposing of FOG. According to at least one embodiment, an article fordisposing of FOG is disclosed. In some examples, the article may includea top portion comprising a top opening and a perimeter rim, and a bodyportion connected to and located below the top portion. In someexamples, the body portion may include a continuous FOG-impermeablemembrane, an upper body portion having a first maximum width, and alower body portion having a second maximum width and a concave shape. Inaddition, the body portion may include a body middle surface thatdivides the upper and lower body portions and may be configured forplacement on at least a portion of a first bottom surface of a sinksurrounding a first drain. The lower body portion may also be sized tofit within the first drain.

In some examples of the article, the interior of the body may alsoinclude FOG absorbent material. In some examples, the upper body portionmay have a top maximum width contiguous to the top portion and a bottommaximum width contiguous to the body middle surface. In some examples,the top maximum width may be greater than the bottom maximum width.

In some examples of the article, the lower body portion may have anupper maximum width contiguous to the body middle surface and a lowermaximum width defining a bottom of the body portion. The upper maximumwidth may be greater than the lower maximum width. In some examples ofthe article, the body middle surface may be flat.

In some examples of the article, the first drain may have a first drainmaximum width that is greater than the second maximum width of the lowerbody portion. In some examples, the first drain may have a depth lessthan a height of the lower body portion. In some examples, the bodymiddle surface may have a middle surface maximum width greater than thefirst drain maximum width.

In some examples, the top opening may be defined by the perimeter rim.In some examples, the perimeter rim may be configured for placement onat least a portion of a second bottom surface of a second sinksurrounding a second drain having a second drain maximum width. In someexamples, the upper body portion may be concave shaped and sized to fitwithin the second drain. In some examples, the perimeter rim may have amaximum width greater than the second drain maximum width. In someexamples, the second drain maximum width may be greater than the firstdrain maximum width.

In some examples, the first maximum width of the upper body portion maybe less than a second drain maximum width of a second drain sized toreceive the upper body portion of the article. In some examples, thefirst maximum width may be greater than the second maximum width. Insome examples, an exterior of the body portion may be defined by thecontinuous FOG-impermeable membrane.

According to at least one other embodiment, a container for disposing ofFOG is disclosed. In some examples the container may include anintegrally formed continuous outer shell including an at least partiallyhollow interior, a top part having a top opening, a liquid impermeablebottom part, and a liquid impermeable upper part connecting andcontiguous to both the top part and the bottom part. In some examples,the container may also include a middle part dividing the top and bottomparts and including at least one middle edge for placement of thecontainer on a first surface surrounding a first drain. The first drainmay have a first maximum width, and the bottom part may have a shapeconforming at least in part to a hollow inner part of the drain forplacement at least partially inside the first drain. The outer shell maybe configured to receive FOG through the top opening without the FOGexiting through the bottom part or the upper part. In some examples, thebottom part may include a second maximum width less than the firstmaximum width of the first drain.

In some examples of the container, the at least one middle edge mayinclude a flat surface for placement of the container on the firstsurface surrounding the first drain. In some examples, the flat surfacemay have a third maximum width greater than the first maximum width. Insome examples, the top part may include at least one top edge forplacement on a second surface surrounding a second drain having a fourthmaximum width. In some examples, the at least one top edge may include arim having a fifth maximum width greater than the fourth maximum width.In some examples, the fourth maximum width may be greater than the firstmaximum width, and the upper part may have a sixth maximum width lessthan the fourth maximum width and greater than the second maximum width.In some examples, the at least one middle edge may include at least twoedges.

According to another embodiment, a method for disposing FOG isdisclosed. The method may include positioning at least one edge of acontainer on a first bottom surface of a sink surrounding a first drainof the sink so that a top opening of a top portion of the container isfacing upward, and at least some of a body portion of the container liesbelow the first bottom surface and within the first drain. In someexamples, the body portion having a FOG-impermeable membrane. In someexamples, the method may also include pouring the FOG through the topopening and into the body portion of the container, the containerpreventing the FOG from passing down the first drain.

In some examples of the method, the positioning may include resting atleast two edges of the container on the first bottom surface. In someexamples, the at least two edges may be located on different sides ofthe container. In some examples, the at least two edges may be locatedon opposite sides of the container.

In some examples, the at least one edge may include a first perimeterrim. And in some examples, the positioning may include resting the firstperimeter rim of the container on the first bottom surface. In someexamples, the first perimeter rim may be located at the top portion ofthe container. In some examples, the first perimeter rim may be locatedat the body portion. In some examples, the body portion may include anupper body portion and a lower body portion. In some examples, the firstperimeter rim may divide the upper body portion and the lower bodyportion.

In some examples, the body portion may have a first maximum width, andthe first drain may have a second maximum width greater than the firstmaximum width. And in some examples, the first perimeter rim may have athird maximum width greater than the second maximum width. In someexamples, the container may include a second perimeter rim having afourth (or second perimeter) maximum width greater than the thirdmaximum width. In some examples, the method may further include restingthe second perimeter rim on a second bottom surface of a sinksurrounding a second drain. In some examples the second drain may have afifth maximum width less than the fourth maximum width. In some examplesthe fifth maximum width may be greater than the second maximum width.

In some examples, the body portion may have a concave shape, and thepositioning may include positioning the at least one edge of thecontainer on the first bottom surface so that at least some of theconcaved shaped body portion lies within the first drain. In someexamples, the interior of the body portion may include absorbentmaterial. In some examples, the method may further include absorbing atleast some of the FOG poured into the body portion using the absorbentmaterial.

In some examples, the FOG-impermeable membrane of the body portion maybe liquid-impermeable. In some examples, the body portion may beconnected to and located below the top portion. In some examples, theFOG-impermeable membrane may be continuous.

According to at least one other embodiment, an article for disposing ofFOG is disclosed. The article may include a perimeter rim defining a topopening configured for placement on the bottom kitchen sink surfacesurrounding a drain of the hollow inward type, so that the body of thearticle, into which FOG may be poured, lies below both the perimeter rimand the top opening and may generally (but not necessarily always) lieat or below a lower elevation than the bottom sink surface, and fittingwithin the hollowed inward part of the drain, the body comprising ashape for stably resting within the drain cavity, and for maximizing thebody volume for receiving the FOG poured therein. With the article bodycomprising a shape conforming to and configured to stably fit within thehollow inward cavity of the drain, FOG may be poured into the topopening of the article where it may be stored rather than enter thepipe(s) of the drain. As many kitchen sink drains have circularring-shaped cross sections (with the inner portion of said ring formingthe surface of the drain defining the hollow drain cavity), the articleperimeter rim in many embodiments may accordingly be circular, having acircumference wider than the top of the drain contiguous to the kitchensink bottom surface.

In some embodiments the article body may comprise a membrane perimeterbeing made of liquid-impervious hard liner material or other rigidexterior membrane that is impermeable to liquid FOG. Other embodimentsmay comprise an exterior membrane (i.e., membrane perimeter) that issubstantially impermeable to liquid FOG. For example, in one embodimentthe exterior membrane may by comprised of corrugated cardboard orrecycled paper molded to the predetermined drain shape (molded forexample utilizing a molded paper pulp process).

In some examples, article embodiments may also comprise an interiorsection of absorbent material, for converting FOG absorbed thereby froma liquid or semi-liquid state to a solid or semi-sold state. In oneembodiment, the absorbent material may be at least partly enclosed bythe exterior membrane to prevent the FOG from passing through the(potentially oversaturated) absorbent material and into the drain pipes.In some embodiments, the entire lower interior of the membrane body maybe filled with absorbent material. Absorbent material may be configuredto receive FOG through the top opening. Said absorbent material may alsocomprise material(s) and designs (as described in more detail below) orother absorbent means for maximizing the amount of FOG capable of beingabsorbed given the limited body volume (or container size forembodiments comprising containers). The FOG absorbent material in oneembodiment may comprise polyurethane, and in one particular embodimentmay also resemble a foam sponge comprised of cellulose material (such aswood pulp or other earth-friendly substance). In some embodiments, theentire article and/or the parts thereof may be disposable and/orbiodegradable. For embodiments comprising absorbent means, with the FOGconverted from a liquid state into an at least semi-solid state, thecontainer may be placed in the trash with less risk that puncturing ofthe container will result in the FOG contents leaking into the remainderof the refuse.

The article may also comprise additional features for maximizing FOGabsorption, such as in one embodiment a cover for placement in the topopening for distributing the FOG poured thereon in a predeterminedmanner over the absorbent material in order to increase FOG saturationof the absorbent material. Said cover in one embodiment may have aradially positioned array of slowed annular openings for distributingliquid over the absorbent material, the slots being of narrow width tokeep the trapped and congealed FOG contained within the body fordisposal. In addition to or instead of absorbent material or otherabsorbent means, some body embodiments may comprise art interioradsorbent surface (which in another embodiment might comprise aremovable liner made of, for example, aluminum foil or heavy paper suchas wax paper).

In one embodiment, the article may comprise a predetermined size and/orbody volume (and amount of absorbent material) for holding an amount ofFOG cooking byproduct tailored to a single instance of home cooking. Forexample, in one particular embodiment the body may have a volume forholding substantially four ounces of FOG and absorbent means configuredto receive FOG in a maximum amount within the body volume. A sizeintended for optimally-efficient one-time use, without requiringadditional instances of usage, to efficiently utilize and not wastecontainer material, may allow a user to omit burdensome andtime-consuming disposal steps, such as storage, sealing and unsealing alid multiple times, and placing the container in a refrigerator orfreezer.

In one embodiment, the exterior membrane of the body configured forplacement in the hollowed inward portion of the drain is rigid (foramong other benefits preventing hot liquid FOG poured thereon fromcompromising the figure of the membrane) and forms a container thatstably rests in the drain while FOG is poured into the container throughthe top opening, with the container sides not stretching substantiallyabove the level of the kitchen sink bottom surface, thus allowing acooking instrument from which the FOG is poured to be held at a lowerelevated and more advantageous position. In some container embodiments,the exterior membrane comprises a rigid outer shell for receiving,holding, and disposing of FOG, which may be separable from the portionof the article comprising the absorbent means. Thus, in some embodimentsthe FOG absorbent or adsorbent means may be disposed of without the restof the article also having to be thrown away. In other containerembodiments, the entire article may be designed for convenient disposalalong with the FOG absorbent/adsorbent means.

The shape of the body configured for placement in a drain may alsoprovide greater stability and less awkward handling while pouring FOG.Moreover, in one embodiment, the body may comprise an inside surfacethat may be continuously downward sloping, to facilitate continueddownward flow of FOG due to gravity and filling of the lowest part ofthe interior of the container first, or to otherwise strategically passliquid FOG to the section of absorbent material. With the article stablyplaced in a drain, the FOG may be poured therein with less risk ofspilling, until at a maximum the FOG absorbent means has been fullysaturated and/or until an adsorbent means has also reached its fullcapacity. In one embodiment, the article body may comprise a rigid, flatbottom surface for placement of the container on another flat surface,such as a countertop, with less worry of the FOG spilling. In oneparticular embodiment having downwardly sloping sides (and as describedin more detail in the Description of the Drawings section), the flatbottom surface may have a width of substantially 2.6 inches. Someembodiments (and not necessarily limited to removable shell or containerembodiments) may also comprise other features for more convenient and/orsafer handling of the article, such as a perimeter rim comprising legsor knobs or other means for holding the rest of the perimeter rimelevated sufficiently above the bottom surface of the kitchen drainsurface (yet still not substantially above the kitchen drain bottomsurface) to facilitate grabbing with fingers and removing the articlefrom the drain once the FOG has been poured therein.

Thus embodiments of articles and containers and methods may allowdisposing of FOG in a more expeditious, economical, efficient,environmentally friendly, regulation-compliant, and safe manner. Theabove-described embodiments are considered that of some embodimentsonly. It is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings belowand described above are merely for illustrative purposes and notintended to limit scope. Therefore, alterations, modifications, and suchfurther applications as would occur to those skilled in the relevantart(s) are also contemplated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first article embodiment fordisposing of FOG in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 with theFOG-distributing cover placed over the top opening, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 2 placedin a drain of a kitchen sink, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 3, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a separated second articleembodiment for disposing of FOG, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the unseparated article of FIG. 5,in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 6,placed in a kitchen sink drain, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective of a third article embodiment for disposingof FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 8,placed in a kitchen sink drain, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a fourth article embodiment fordisposing of FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 10,placed in a kitchen sink drain, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an overhead perspective view showing the article in FIG. 1 inits environment of use, stably positioned in a kitchen sink andreceiving FOG poured therein, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 13A is an overhead perspective view of another article embodimentfor disposing FOG, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 13B is a side view of the article embodiment of FIG. 13A, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 13C is a top view of the article embodiment of FIG. 13A, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 14A is a side view showing the article embodiment of FIG. 13A in anenvironment of use, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 14B is a side view showing the article embodiment of FIG. 13A inanother environment of use, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for disposingFOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method fordisposing FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For many people, prior art articles, methods, and devices for disposingof FOG simply do not provide a sufficiently attractive alternative topouring FOG down drains. Pouring hot liquid FOG directly into the trash,for example, is of course not preferable because it can burn through therefuse, garbage bag, and damage the garage container or even start afire. A noxious odor can also begin to emanate from congealed FOG storedin the trash. Placing FOG in bags or containers with nonrigid or thinmembranes, which are then placed in the trash, is similarly undesirablesince the containers/bags can be punctured and the FOG can be reheatedat some point, causing the FOG to return to its liquid and potentiallyproblematic form. In addition to the risk of puncturing, non-rigid andthin container membranes (such as those made of certain plastics and/orthin metal foil) may also either be melted or deformed by hot liquid FOGand/or bent out of shape by the weight of FOG poured thereon or byexternal objects. For example, after liquid FOG is poured intocontainers/bags with non-rigid membranes, such containers/bags are morelikely to take the shape of the inside liquid contents, and thereforemay be awkward to handle, increasing the likelihood of spilling. Therisk of spilling is even greater when/if the bags are not sealed fairlysoon after FOG is placed therein. Similarly, if such bag openings arenot sealed completely, the lack of a substantially rigid membraneincreases the likelihood of the FOG leaking and spilling throughbreaches in the seal.

On the other hand, containers/bags with thicker and more imperviousmembranes are generally more costly to produce. Since these costs arenormally passed onto consumers, and prior art containers/bags holdingcongealed FOG must normally be disposed of along with the FOG, it may beimpractical for cost-conscious consumers to regularly use and dispose ofsuch more expensive containers/bags. In addition to higher costs, manysuch containers/bags with thicker less pervious membranes (and eventhose with thinner, more pervious membranes) are less biodegradable andtherefore more harmful to the environment. For example, although somecontainers might be recyclable when not contaminated with FOG, thecongealed and sticking FOG may foreclose such functionality, which mayresult in additional environmental harm (especially where the containeris not biodegradable).

Environmental harm may also be increased unnecessarily (howeverslightly) by the many prior art containers/bags with sizes substantiallylarger than the volume of the liquid FOG placed therein. Specifically,when said overly large containers, filled just-partially with FOG, aredisposed of in the trash, the unnecessary container material is wastedand also takes up more space in the trash. On the other hand, when suchlarger containers/bags are used to dispose of FOG in a manner that doesnot waste material—requiring reuse multiple times for separate instancesof FOG-producing cooking activities in order to “fill up” the containervolume—then more time-consuming steps are required for proper disposal.For example, many containers/bags appear to be designed to holdapproximately one quart of FOG or more, yet the FOG byproduct from onenon-commercial cooking session is often much less than a quart. It isnot uncommon, for example, that one instance of home cooking generatesan amount of FOG byproduct not substantially more than four ounces, andin a range of two to six and a half ounces. Regardless of the preciseamount of FOG byproduct generated, the larger containers/bags must oftenbe reused several times before disposal in order to avoid waste ofcontainer material, and thus require additional and time-consuming stepsrelating to such reuse. Such steps include, for example, in the interimbetween each addition of FOG by product from different instances ofcooking, the proper storage of both the FOG and container, during whichtime bacteria and pests may be attracted and/or unpleasant odorsemanated. To try and counter these and other negative effects, aFOG-holding container/bag is often either placed in a refrigerator orfreezer, thus requiring additional space, attention, and time, orsealed, for example, with a removable lid, and then unsealed when moreFOG is placed therein, which sealing and unsealing requires additionaltime. Suffice it to say that due to several different factors, the extrasteps for using a container/bag multiple times to dispose of FOG withoutwasting (potentially expensive) container material may be undesirable(e.g., too time-consuming) and lead to a person disposing of FOGimproperly, such as by pouring it down a drain. Although it would bedesirable to have a disposable, environmentally-friendly article thatallowed omission of some disposal-steps and that provided a practical,cost-conscious, non-wasteful solution for effectively and properlydisposing of FOG, few if any disposable articles are specificallydesigned to dispose just of the more limited amount of FOG produced inone instance of cooking at home, efficient for such one-time use andwithout requiring reuse in order to not waste material.

It would further be desirable if such a novel article existed and alsocomprised other features for easy and safe use (e.g., pouring) withoutentailing wastefulness of material and/or substantially higher costs.For example, larger containers/bags are not only more expensive toproduce than smaller containers/hags (other factors being equal), but insome instances can also be less wieldy in the kitchen, especially whenone hand is occupied holding a cooking instrument containing FOG.Moreover, although sealing with a lid may assist in avoiding spillingwhen a container is placed in the trash, containers with lids areadditionally more expensive to manufacture, with the expense normallyincreasing with the size of the lid. On the other hand, smaller lidsrequire smaller openings, which provide smaller targets for pouring FOGinto the containers.

Several other factors in addition to unwieldiness and opening size canalso make pouring FOG into prior art containers and bags a somewhatchallenging task. For example, hot “liquid” FOG may include lumps, askor even small food particles, which inconsistencies can result inirregularities in flow when pouring. Furthermore, FOG may be created invarious cooking instruments that are not conducive to pouring in aprecise manner, such as cooking pans with gradually curved rims and flatedges (i.e., without spouts or other features for focusing or directingflow of a liquid). The potentially high temperatures of such cookinginstruments, moreover, especially immediately after cooking when the FOGis still in hot and liquid form, combined with potentially dirty, oilyand/or slippery surfaces due for example to heated FOG particles thatmay have exited the cooking instrument during cooking, can lead to lesssure gripping of the cooking instrument. Similarly, the handle(s) ofsuch instruments may not have been designed to provide optimal leverage,vantage point, or control for pouring. For example, in the case ofcooking instruments that are pans, the FOG may normally be poured byholding the pan away from the body with the arm outstretched, and slowlytilting a side of the pan towards the container and attempting tomonitor the flow of liquid with the naked eye.

This challenge of controlling pouring the FOG is often exacerbated(whether or not consciously recognized by the person pouring) by anoften-raised position of the container/bag due both to placement onelevated kitchen countertops and the large sides of the such prior artcontainer/bag that create an elevated container/bag top opening that mayeven be higher above the kitchen countertop level. This elevatedposition of the “point of entry” for the pouring of the FOG may requirethat the FOG-pouring cooking instrument (e.g., the pan) be held by thearm(s) and hand(s) in an even more lofty and harder to control position.However, the higher the hot liquid FOG is held, the potentially moredangerous such FOG can be if it leaves the confines of the cookinginstrument, either by “jumping” from the cooking instrument due to hightemperature, or by spilling. Moreover, to achieve greater stability whenholding the cooking instrument in a high pouring position, two hands mayoften be used to grip the cooking instrument or handle(s) thereof—whichmay leave no hand free to adjust the position of the container/bagaccording to the point of pouring FOG flow or to stabilize thecontainer/bag, which unbraced-container/bag might then be inadvertentlybumped by the cooking instrument (possibly causing spilling). Thus, itwould be desirable if a container with a substantially rigid membraneexisted that allowed more stable pouring of FOG at a lower, morecontrollable and safe position.

Even when liquid FOG is successfully poured into a container/bag andthen placed in the trash, as mentioned above, at some point in thedisposal process (e.g., from the garbage to the refuse landfill) thecontainer/bag's membrane may become compromised and the FOG may becomereheated and return to a harmful liquid form. Possibly aimed to preventsuch situations, some municipalities have prohibitions against placingFOG in the trash in free-flowing liquid form, or in a form that canbecome liquid upon application of heat. Some municipalities may allow,however, disposal of FOG if bound in a stable solid form. This may beaccomplished, for example, by the FOG being absorbed by a solid orsemi-solid medium. Although different types of absorbent material mayprovide varying advantages such as weight, rate of absorption, and levelof saturation, few methods and devices comprise designs or shapes formore effectively utilizing absorbent material and/or maximizing thespace inside a container housing absorbent material. However,effectively utilizing absorbent material and maximizing such containermay be beneficial for articles that are intended to consolidate spacefor purposes of efficiency, size, and convenience. Thus, either tocomply with municipal code or simply to avoid the potentialdisadvantages associated with FOG in liquid form, it would be beneficialif in addition to there being a practical, convenient, and efficient,one-time use, disposable, environmentally-friendly container fordisposing of FOG, said container also comprised absorbent material forconverting FOG from a liquid form to a semi-stable solid form(notwithstanding application of heat). It would be further desirable ifsuch a container comprised a design of absorbent material for maximizingthe amount of FOG saturation in a limited amount of absorbent materialvolume, and were comprised of substantially rigid membranes and designslending to stability while pouring FOG therein.

Described herein is such an article for disposing of FOG that overcomesone or more of the aforementioned challenges, such as those associatedwith substantially non-rigid membranes (which may lead to awkwardhandling, spillage, and bending/disfiguration of the membrane at thepoint of FOG contact), having to pour FOG from an elevated position intoan elevated point of entry (i.e., opening) of a container/bag, wastingcontainer material, requiring time-consuming steps, being prohibitivelyexpensive (when disposing a container after each session ofFOG-generating cooking), not maximizing FOG saturation of absorbentmaterial, and not being environmentally friendly. Said article forovercoming one or more of such challenges may provide consumers amongother benefits an attractive alternative and practical solution topouring FOG into a drain (where it can cause environmental harm).

The relative convenience of securely placing the article in the hollowedportion of the drain of the kitchen sink may encourage proper disposalinstead of pouring FOG down a drain and serve as an effective reminderto a user to not pour the FOG down the drain. In addition, thestabilized position for holding the container within the hollowed inwarddrain while FOG is poured therein, without requiring use of othersupporting devices (such as a funnel) or stabilization by a person'shand(s), may allow a person to use both hands to carefully pour the FOGinto the article.

The placement of the article in the substantially lower-elevatedposition of the drain, furthermore, such as that found along the floorof a kitchen sink, may allow a person to more easily and in a morecontrolled manner hold a pan or other cooking instrument at a lowerpoint over the container, thereby avoiding the expenditure of greaterenergy and allowing more control. Pouring at a level below thecountertop level and/or substantially at the surface of a kitchen sinkmay also be advantageous in the event that hot liquid FOG “jumps” from acontainer or pan. Being held at a lower elevation, furthermore, takesadvantage of the force of gravity and makes such erratic FOG-particlejumping, if it does occur, less likely to result in damage or injury byfor example burning a person's skin or causing damage to surroundingobjects. For example, with the article (and the top opening—i.e., thepoint of entry of the poured FOG) placed at such a lower elevation in akitchen drain or garbage disposal, the sides of a kitchen sink may alsoact more effectively as protective walls preventing the FOG from causinginjury or damage or mess outside the sink area. Moreover, the vantagepoint of looking down into the article in the drain, and of standing incloser proximity to the container may also assist in careful pouringwithout spilling. In addition, the size of the top opening of thearticle may be substantially equal to the width (or diameter) of thedrain opening, thereby providing a sufficiently large “target” forpouring the FOG into (when compared to the more narrow openings of someconventional containers). Moreover, due to the fact that the top openingof some article embodiments may not be substantially wider than thedrain opening diameter or substantially elevated above the kitchen sinkfloor surrounding the drain, the article may be placed in the drainwithout substantially encumbering the area above or around the drain(and especially without encumbering said area with potentially unusedcontainer volume), which area might instead be more easily used forcareful manipulation of a cooking instrument holding and/or pouring FOG.

Although sealing of the container (in container embodiments) may not benecessary once the FOG has been absorbed and converted into at leastpartially solid form, in some embodiments (including those withoutabsorbent means) the top opening may close after FOG is poured therein,and wall revealed, and in other embodiments may be reopened and resealedaccording to user preference.

In some embodiments the article exterior membrane may also composesupporting bars to provide additional structural support, which mayfurther assist in retaining intended shape without requiring a thickerexterior membrane. It is further anticipated that the article maycomprise material, in one embodiment, that is not only impervious to hotliquid FOG, but may also comprise on the outside heat absorbingmaterial, allowing grabbing and holding without risk of burning aperson's hand.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a first article embodiment13 for disposing of FOG, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. The article 13 may comprise absorbent material 14 containedby an outer body perimeter (i.e., exterior membrane forming a bodyshape) 16, and a top opening 15 above the absorbent material 14 forreceiving FOG there-through, the top opening 15 defined by a perimeterrim 17 having a width wider than the body perimeter 16.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the article of FIG. 1, in accordancewith various aspects of this disclosure. The article 13 may alsocomprise a cover 18 for placement over both the top opening 15 and theabsorbent material 14 thereunder. The cover 18, in the embodiment 13shown, when placed over the top opening 15 defined by the perimeter rim17, may comprise a design for distributing FOG 19 more evenly over theabsorbent material 14.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 2 placedin a drain of a kitchen sink, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. The perimeter rim 17 may comprise dimensions and/or have ashape adapted for placement on the bottom kitchen sink surface 21surrounding a drain 22 of the hollow inward type, so that the articlebody 16 (or some portion thereof), more narrow than and below the rim17, may fit within the drain cavity 20 and stably rest therein. The body16, moreover, may comprise a shape conforming to, the hollow inwardcavity of the drain 20 and configured for maximizing the amount ofabsorbent material 14 and available volume for receiving the FOG 19therein.

The drain 20 shown, like drains often found along a bottom kitchen sinksurface 21, comprises circular ring-shaped cross sections. Accordingly,the perimeter rim 17 of the article embodiment 13 shown may also becircular, having a circumference greater than the circumference of thetop of the drain 23 (contiguous to the kitchen sink bottom surface 21)for placement thereon, and the body 16 also may also have circular crosssections of sizes for securely placing the article 13 within the concavedrain 20. The top opening 15 defined by the perimeter rim 17 may alsohave a circumference and/or width substantially approximating thecircumference and/or width of the top of the drain 23, thereby providinga larger “target” for pouring the FOG there-through. For example, thecombined width of the top opening 15 and the perimeter rim 17 may be inthe embodiment shown substantially 4.4 inches. The height of theperimeter rim 17 in the embodiment shown may substantially be 0.75inches, or other height so that the top opening 15 is not substantiallyabove, or rather substantially even with the level of the bottom sinksurface 21. The height from the top of the perimeter rim 17 to thebottom of the article 13 may in the embodiment shown be substantially2.38 inches. In the embodiment 13 shown, the body 16 may also comprisean inside surface 24 bordering the absorbent material 14 that iscontinuously downward sloping, and may in the embodiment shown have apitch of substantially 18 degrees, to facilitate continued downward flowof FOG 19 so that the absorbent material 14 is more likely to becomesaturated first from the bottom up. In this manner, pouring FOG 19 intothe top opening 15 prevents and provides an attractive alternative fromFOG 19 being poured down the drain 20 and entering a pipe 22.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 3, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure. The absorbentmaterial 14 in the particular embodiment shown 13 may have a sponge-liketexture (may comprise polyurethane), and may convert the liquid FOG 19absorbed thereby to a solid or semi-sold, more stable state 25.So-converted, the FOG is ready for proper disposal and may be removedfrom the drain of FIG. 3, and placed on another surface 26 (or in thegarbage) without fear that the solid-FOG 25 contents may spill from thearticle 13. Moreover, the perimeter body 16 of the embodiment shown 13may be comprised of environmentally-friendly rigid/semi-rigid material,such as hard paper liner allowing the article 13 to retain its form evenwhen the liquid FOG 19 therein has not yet cooled or congealed orconverted into its solid/semi-solid FOG state 25.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a separated second articleembodiment for disposing of FOG, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure. This second article embodiment 27 for properlydisposing of FOG may comprise a body perimeter that is a shell container28 also having a shape for at least partially fitting in a drain 20,similar to that previously-described for the first embodiment 13 above(in FIG. 3), having circular cross sections, and also comprising aperimeter rim 32. The second article embodiment 27 may also comprise atop opening 31, and absorbent material 29 configured for fitting withinthe shell container 28, and may also comprise a filter 30 for placementover the top opening 31 and absorbent material 29. However, the topopening 31 need not be defined by the perimeter rim 32, but rather maybe comprised by a liner piece 35 configured for placement within theshell container 28, which liner piece 35 may also comprise the absorbentmaterial 29. The size of the absorbent material 29 in the secondembodiment 27 may also comprise a predetermined size and/or body volumeand/or material type for absorbing an amount of FOG cooking byproducttailored to one instance of home cooking. The perimeter rim 32 may alsocomprise legs 33 for holding the rest of the perimeter rim 32 elevatedto facilitate grabbing as described in more detail below. The secondembodiment 27 also comprises a trough 34 overflow area for catching FOGonce the absorbent material 29 is saturated. The trough 34 area may beformed by a ride exterior membrane 36 enclosing the sides of theabsorbent material 29, joined to/intersecting with the downward-middlesloping wall of the liner 35.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the unseparated article of FIG. 5,in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. And FIG. 7 is acutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 6, placed in akitchen sink drain, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, the liner piece 35 may be placed insidethe shell/container 28 (and the liner piece 35 may also be removablefrom the shell/container 28), and as shown in FIG. 7 the filter 30 maybe placed over the top opening 31 and the absorbent material 29, and thearticle 27 may be placed in the drain 20 along a bottom kitchen sinksurface 21, with the legs 33 of the perimeter rim 32 resting along thetop of the drain 23 so that the shell/container 28 stably rests insidethe drain 20. The trough 34 formed by the absorbent side exteriorliner/membrane 36 and the downward-middle sloping wall of the liner 35may capture any excess FOG 19 that was poured into the filter 30 and topopening 31 but that was not absorbed by the absorbent material 29. Afterthe absorbent material 29 has absorbed the liquid FOG 19, and any excessFOG 19 has been properly dealt with, disposal may occur, either bydisposing of just the liner piece 35 (comprising the absorbent material29) after it has been separated from the shell/container 28, or theentire article 27. Thus, the shell/container 28 in one embodiment 27 mayassist in providing a more secure fit within the drain 20, and/orproviding an extra layer of cautiousness to assure that FOG 19 does notescape down the drain 20.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective of a third article embodiment for disposingof FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. Someembodiments, like the third article embodiment 37 shown in FIG. 8, maynot necessarily comprise the outer shell container 28, but rather maysimply comprise a rigid outer membrane 38 for placement within the drain20. The embodiment 37 also need not comprise a filter 30 (like thesecond article embodiment 27 shown in FIGS. 5-7) but rather may comprisean exposed top opening 39 defined by a perimeter rim 41, which rim 41may also be configured for placement over the top of the drain 23contiguous with the bottom sink surface 21. The outer membrane 38 mayalso be comprised of substantially rigid material so that it does notlose some of its form when FOG 19 is placed therein and over theabsorbent material 40.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway cross sectional view of the article of FIG. 8,placed in a kitchen sink drain, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, the hollowed inward part of thedrain 20 may have a middle section 51 and a bottom section 52, and theouter membrane 38 may also have a middle section 53 and a bottom section54 roughly conforming to the middle section 51 and bottom section 52. Asshown in FIG. 9, in some examples, the cross section of the middlesection 53 may be greater than the cross section of the bottom section54, the height of the middle section 53 may be greater than the heightof the bottom section 54, and/or the slope of the middle section 53 maybe greater than the slope of the bottom section 54. FIG. 10 is a topperspective view of a fourth article embodiment for disposing of FOG, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure. FIG. 11 is a cutawaycross sectional view of the article of FIG. 10, in accordance withvarious aspects of this disclosure. The configurations of absorbentmaterial may vary in ways intended to maximize the amount of saturationgiven limited space. As shown in FIG. 10, a fourth article embodiment 42may comprise a cone 43 design in the middle of and below the top opening45 for distributing FOG 19 more evenly to a ring of absorbent material44 surrounding the cone 43. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, when the article42 is placed over and in a drain 20, and when FOG 19 is poured throughthe top opening 45 and onto the cone 43, which may have a top heightgreater than the height of the absorbent material 44, the FOG 19 may bedistributed to the absorbent material 44 surrounding the cone 43. Thecone 43 and other designs may be for distributing FOG evenly to theabsorbent material 44.

FIG. 12 is an overhead perspective view showing the article in FIG. 1 inits environment of use, stably positioned in a kitchen sink andreceiving FOG poured therein, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. Some embodiments, such as those mentioned and describedabove (e.g., embodiments 13, 27, 37, 42) in their environment of use maybe stably positioned to receive FOG 19 therein in a drain 20 in thebottom of a kitchen sink surface 21, which may be advantageous inseveral respects, encouraging proper disposal instead of pouring FOG 19down a drain 20. For example, (as shown in FIG. 12) the perimeter rim 17may rest on the top of the drain 23 in a manner that is notsubstantially elevated above the bottom sink surface 21. This positionmay allow, when disposing of FOG 19 by pouring into the top opening 15of the article 13, a cooking instrument 46 from which FOG is beingpoured to be held by a person 47 at a lower and more controlledelevation, and potentially not far above the sink bottom surface 21.

Moreover the rigidity of the body 16 (FIG. 1-3) and its shape configuredto fit within the drain 20 and its inability to significantly movelaterally may provide added stability lending to greater control whilepouring FOG 19. In addition, said stability, which can be achievedwithout a hand 48 having to hold the article 13, may also leave both ofa person's 47 hands 48 free to carefully pour the FOG 19 into thearticle 13. Furthermore, with the article 13 and the cooking instrument46 both held at a lower elevation, the person 47 pouring may have a morepreferable vantage point of looking down at the article 13 in the drain20, and of standing in closer lateral proximity to the article 13. Also,pouring occurring substantially in the confines of the sink 49 at alevel below the countertop 50 may also decrease the likelihood that thehot liquid FOG 19 will erratically jump from the cooking instrument 46upward and out of sink 49 (which might otherwise damage or and/or dirtysurrounding persons 47 and objects).

FIG. 13A is an overhead perspective view of another article embodiment1300 for disposing FOG, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. The article 1300 may include a top portion 1305 having a topopening 1310. The article 1300 may also include a body portion 1315connected to and located below the top portion 1305. In some examples,the body portion 1315 may include a continuous FOG-impermeable membrane1320. In some examples, the FOG-impermeable membrane 1320 may be locatedon the exterior of the body portion 1315. In other examples, theFOG-impermeable membrane 1320 may be located on the interior of the bodyportion 1315.

In some examples, the body portion 1315 may have an upper body portion1325 and a lower body portion 1330. The lower body portion 1330 and/orthe upper body portion 1325, and/or portions thereof, may have a concaveshape.

The body portion 1315 may also have a body middle surface 1335 dividingthe upper and lower body portions 1325, 1330. In some examples, the bodymiddle surface 1335 may have different features than the upper bodyportion 1325 and/or the lower body portion 1330. For instance, in someexamples the body middle surface 1335 (and/or portion of the membrane1320 thereof) may have a different slope or pitch than the upper bodyportion 1325 and/or the lower body portion 1330 (and/or portion of themembrane 1320 thereof). For example, the body middle surface 1335 or atleast some portion thereof in one variation may be flat—e.g.,substantially horizontal or perpendicular to a vertical axis 1340defined by a line running from the center of the top opening 1310 to acenter of a bottom surface 1345 of the lower body portion 1330.

Although illustrated in FIG. 13A as a circular outward jutting edgeextending horizontally all the way around the body portion 1315, it maybe appreciated that other variations of the body middle surface 1335 arealso contemplated. For instance, in some examples the body middlesurface 1335 may include at least one edge, which at least one edge maynot extend continuously all the way around the body portion 1315. Insome examples, the at least one edge may include two edges, located forexamples directly opposite only another, and aligned along the samehorizontal axis 1350 perpendicular to the vertical axis 1340. In someexamples, the at least one edge may include three or more edges, evenlyspaced yet aligned substantially along the horizontal axis 1350perpendicular to the vertical axis 1340. In some examples, the at leastone edge may have a length (e.g., a distance of the at least one edgerunning around part of the circumference or exterior of the body portion1325 along the horizontal axis 1350 at the body middle surface 1335) anda width (e.g., a distance from a coordinate of the lower body portion1330 contiguous to the body middle surface 1335 to a coordinate of theupper body portion 1325 along the horizontal axis), and othercoordinates for defining the dimensions and/or features of the at leastone edge.

FIG. 13B is a side perspective view of the article embodiment of FIG.13A, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. The upperbody portion 1325 may have a first maximum width 1355, and the lowerbody portion 1330 may have a second maximum width 1360. In someexamples, the first maximum width 1355 may be greater than the secondmaximum width 1360.

The upper body portion 1325 may have a first maximum width 1355 near orcontiguous to the top portion 1305 and a bottom maximum width 1365contiguous to the body middle surface 1335. The top maximum width 1355may be greater than the bottom maximum width 1365. In some examples thetop maximum width 1355 may be less than five inches. In some examples,the top maximum width 1355 may be greater than five inches. In someexamples, the bottom maximum width 1365 may be greater than two inches.In some examples, the bottom maximum width 1365 may be less than twoinches. The lower body portion 1330 may have an upper maximum width 1360(which in some examples may be the second maximum width 1360) contiguousto the body middle surface 1335 and a lower maximum width 1370, which insome examples may define a bottom surface 1345 of the body portion 1315,wherein the upper maximum width 1360 may be greater than the lowermaximum width 1370. In some examples, the upper maximum 1360 width wallless than 1.9 inches. In some examples, the upper maximum 1360 width maybe greater than 1.9 inches. In some examples, the lower maximum width1370 that may define a bottom surface 1345 may be greater than 1.3inches. In some examples, the lower maximum width 1370 defining a bottomsurface 1345 may be less than 1.3 inches. The body middle surface 1335,or a portion thereof, may be flat or have a fiat portion 1385 (which mayin some examples be aligned with the horizontal axis 1350 shown in FIG.13A). Some variations of the at article 1300 may have substantiallydifferent (e.g., larger) dimensions.

The body portion 1315 may have an interior 1375. The interior 1375 mayinclude FOG absorbent material 1380. The top portion 1305 may also havelegs or nubs 1390.

FIG. 13C is a top view of the article embodiment of FIG. 13A, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure. The top portion 1305may include a top opening 1310, which may be defined by a perimeter rim1395. In some examples, and as mentioned above, the top position mayfurther include a filter portion 1398 for filtering FOG from the topopening 1310 into the body portion 1315 (as shown in FIG. 13A). Inaddition, the top portion 1305 may include a removable lid 1397, whichmay or may not be transparent as shown, and which may also in someexamples be provided as a piece separate from the top portion 1305. Insome examples, the removable lid 1397 may be slightly larger/wider thanthe top portion 1305 to fit over and cover the top portion 1305 and sealthe article 1300 or container by various manners known to the person orordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 14A is a side view showing the article embodiment of FIG. 13A in anenvironment of use, in accordance with various aspects of thisdisclosure. The article 1300-A may be configured for placement on atleast a portion of a first bottom surface 1405 of a sink surrounding afirst drain 1410. In some examples, the body middle surface 1335-A maybe configured for placement on at least a portion of a first bottomsurface 1405 of a sink surrounding a first drain 1410. In some examples,the body middle surface 1335-A may include features for stable placementof the article 1300-A on at least a portion of a first bottom surface1405 of a sink surrounding a first drain 1410. In some examples, atleast some portion of the body middle surface 1335-A may besubstantially flat, or have substantially the same pitch as the firstbottom surface 1405. In some examples, the body middle surface 1335-Amay be configured to maximize an area of the body middle surface 1335-Athat may rest on the first bottom surface 1405, for greater stability.In some examples, the body middle surface 1335-A may include legs ornubs (not shown) similar to legs nubs 1390.

The lower body portion 1330-A of the article 1300-A may be sized to fitwithin the first drain 1410 while the article 1300-A is placed (e.g.,while at least one edge of the body middle surface 1335-A is placed orpositioned) on at least a portion of the first bottom surface 1405. Thefirst drain 1410 may have a first drain maximum width 1415 that isgreater than the second maximum width 1360-A of the lower body portion1330-A. In some examples, the body middle surface 1335-A may have amiddle surface maximum width 1430 greater than the first drain maximumwidth 1415. The first drain 1410 may also have a depth 1420 greater thana height 1425 of the lower body portion 1330-A. In some examples, theheight 1425 of the lower body portion 1330-A may be greater than 1.4inches. In some examples, the height 1425 of the lower body portion1330-A may be less than 1.4 inches, such as in the range of about 1 toabout 4 inches, or any value that may for example be less than a depthof a drain in which the lower body portion 1330-A is placed.

FIG. 14B is a side view showing the article embodiment 1300-B of FIG.13A in another environment of use, in accordance with various aspects ofthis disclosure. In some examples, the top portion 1305-A may includethe top opening 1310-A, and may include the perimeter rim 1395-A. Inaddition, in some examples, the top opening 1310-A may be defined by theperimeter rim 1395-A. The perimeter rim 1395-A may be configured forplacement on at least a portion of a second bottom surface 1430 of asecond sink surrounding a second drain 1435 having a second drainmaximum width 1440. In some examples, the top portion 1305-A (and insome examples, the perimeter rim 1395-A thereof) may include legs ornubs 1390-A for stable placement on at least a portion of the secondbottom surface 1430. In some examples, the upper body portion 1325-A maybe concave shaped and sized to fit within the second drain 1435. Thesecond drain 1435 may also have a depth 1450 greater than a height 1455of the upper body portion 1325-A plus the height 1425-A of the lowerbody portion 1330-B.

In some examples, the height 1455 of the upper body portion 1325-A maybe greater than 2.3 inches. In some examples, the height 1455 of theupper body portion 1325-A may be less than 2.3 inches. In some examples,the combined height of 1455 of the upper body portion 1325-A and theheight 1425-A of the lower body portion 1330-B may be greater than 3.7inches. In some examples, the combined height of 1455 of the upper bodyportion 1325-A and the height 1425-A of the lower body portion 1330-Bmay be less than 3.7 inches, or for example in a range of about 3 to 5inches, or in some examples a value less than a depth of a drain inwhich the upper body portion 1325-A is placed (e.g., a depth 1450 of thesecond drain 1435 referenced below).

In some examples, the perimeter rim 1395-A may have a perimeter rimmaximum width 1445 greater than the second drain maximum width 1440. Insome examples the perimeter rim maximum width 1445 may be greater thanfive inches. In some examples the perimeter rim maximum width 1445 maybe less than five inches. In some examples, the second drain maximumwidth 1440 may be greater than the first drain maximum width 1415. Insome examples, the first maximum width 1360-B of the upper body portion1325-A may be less than the second drain maximum width 1440 of a seconddrain. In some examples, the second drain maximum width 1440 may besized to receive the upper body portion 1325-A of the article 1300-B.Some variations of the articles 1300-A and 1300-B may have substantiallydifferent (e.g., larger or smaller) dimensions, for use with drains ofcorresponding (e.g., much larger or smaller) dimensions.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method 1500 fordisposing FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. Atblock 1505, the method may include positioning at least one edge of acontainer on a first bottom surface of a sink surrounding a first drainof the sink so that a top opening of a top portion of the container isfacing upward, and at least some of a body portion of the container liesbelow the first bottom surface and within the first drain. In someexamples, the body portion may have a FOG-impermeable membrane. At box1510, the method may also include pouring the FOG through the topopening and into the body portion of the container, the containerpreventing the FOG from passing down the first drain.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method fordisposing FOG, in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure. Atblock 1605, the method may include positioning at least one edge of acontainer on a first bottom surface of a sink surrounding a first drainof the sink so that a top opening of a top portion of the container isfacing upward, and at least some of a body portion of the container liesbelow the first bottom surface and within the first drain. In someexamples, the body portion may have a FOG-impermeable membrane, in someexamples of the method, the positioning may include resting at least twoedges of the container on the first bottom surface. In some examples,the at least two edges may be located on different sides of thecontainer. In some examples, the at least two edges may be located onopposite sides of the container.

At box 1610, the method may also include pouring the FOG through the topopening and into the body portion of the container, the containerpreventing the FOG from passing down the first drain.

In some examples, the body portion may have a concave shape. At box1615, the positioning may include positioning the at least one edge ofthe container on the first bottom surface so that at least some of theconcaved shaped body portion lies within the first drain.

In some examples, the at least one edge may include a first perimeterrim. Thus, at box 1620, the positioning may include resting the firstperimeter rim of the container on the first bottom surface. In someexamples as mentioned above, the first perimeter rim may divide an upperbody portion and a lower body portion. In some examples, the bodyportion may have a first maximum width, and the first drain may have asecond maximum width greater than the first maximum width.

At box 1625, the method may further include removing the container fromthe first bottom surface, and subsequently resting a second perimeterrim on a second bottom surface of a sink surrounding a second drain. Insome examples the second drain may have a fifth maximum width greaterthan the second maximum width. In some examples, the second perimeterrim may be rested on the second bottom surface without the containerhaving been first perimeter rim having been rested previously on thefirst bottom surface. In some examples, the second perimeter rim may berested on the second bottom surface and subsequently container may beremoval from that surface and then subsequently the first perimeter rimmay be rested on the first bottom surface.

In some examples, the interior of the body portion may include absorbentmaterial. At box 1630, the method may further include absorbing at leastsome of the FOG poured into the body portion using the absorbentmaterial. The absorbing may occur either while the container resting onthe first bottom surface, or while resting on the second bottom surface.In addition, the absorbent material may be removed from the container.Or alternatively, where the entire container is intended to bedisposable, the absorbent material may be disposed of along with theentire container.

The foregoing description provides examples and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, and/or examples set forth in the claims. It may beappreciated that other variations such as would be apparent to theperson of ordinary skill in the art are also contemplated. Changes maybe made in the function and/or arrangement of features discussed Withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit,substitute, and/or add various features as appropriate.

1. An article for disposing of fat, oil and/or grease (FOG), the articlecomprising: a top portion comprising a top opening and a perimeter rim;a body portion connected to and located below the top portion, the bodyportion comprising: a continuous FOG-impermeable membrane; an upper bodyportion having a first maximum width; a lower body portion haying asecond maximum width and a concave shape; a body middle surface dividingthe upper and lower body portions and configured for placement on atleast a portion of a first bottom surface of a sink surrounding a firstdrain, the lower body portion sized to fit within the first drain. 2.The article of claim 1, wherein an interior of the body comprises FOGabsorbent material.
 3. The article of claim 1, wherein the upper bodyportion has a top maximum width contiguous to the top portion and abottom maximum width contiguous to the body middle surface, and the topmaximum width is greater than the bottom maximum width.
 4. The articleof claim 1, wherein the lower body portion has an upper maximum widthcontiguous to the body middle surface and a lower maximum width defininga bottom of the body portion, wherein the upper maximum width is greaterthan the lower maximum width.
 5. The article of claim 1, wherein thebody middle surface is flat.
 6. The article of claim 1, wherein thefirst drain has a first drain maximum width that is greater than thesecond maximum width of the lower body portion.
 7. The article of claim6, wherein the first drain has a depth less than a height of the lowerbody portion.
 8. The article of claim 6, wherein the body middle surfacehas a middle surface maximum width greater than the first drain maximumwidth.
 9. The article of claim 1, wherein the top opening is defined bythe perimeter rim.
 10. The article of claim 9, wherein the perimeter rimis configured for placement on at least a portion of a second bottomsurface of a second sink surrounding a second drain having a seconddrain maximum width.
 11. The article of claim 10, wherein the upper bodyportion is concave shaped and sized to fit within the second drain. 12.The article of claim 10, wherein the perimeter rim has a perimetermaximum width greater than the second drain maximum width.
 13. Thearticle of claim 10, wherein the second drain maximum width is greaterthan the first drain maximum width.
 14. The article of claim 1, whereinthe first maximum width of the upper body portion is less than a seconddrain maximum width of a second drain sized to receive the upper bodyportion of the article.
 15. The article of claim 1, wherein the firstmaximum width is greater than the second maximum width.
 16. The articleof claim 1, wherein an exterior of the body portion is defined by thecontinuous FOG-impermeable membrane.
 17. A container for disposing offat, oil, and/or grease (FOG) comprising: an integrally formedcontinuous outer shell comprising an at least partially hollow interior,a top part having a top opening, a liquid impermeable bottom part, aliquid impermeable upper part connecting and contiguous to both the toppart and the bottom part, a middle part dividing the top and bottomparts and comprising at least one middle edge for placement of thecontainer on a first surface surrounding a first drain, the first drainhaving a first maximum width, the bottom part having a shape conformingat least in part to a hollow inner part of the drain for placement atleast partially inside the first drain; wherein the other shell isconfigured to receive FOG through the top opening without the FOGexiting through the bottom part or the upper part; and wherein thebottom part comprises a second maximum width less than the first maximumwidth of the first drain.
 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the atleast one middle edge comprises a flat surface for placement of thecontainer on the first surface surrounding the first drain, the flatsurface haying a third maximum width greater than the first maximumwidth.
 19. The container of claim 18, wherein the top part comprises atleast one top edge for placement on a second surface surrounding asecond drain having a fourth maximum width.
 20. The container of claim19, wherein the at least one middle edge comprises a rim having a fifthmaximum width greater than the fourth maximum width.
 21. The containerof claim 19, wherein the fourth maximum width is greater than the firstmaximum width, and the upper part has a sixth maximum width less thanthe fourth maximum width and greater than the second maximum width. 22.The container of claim 17, wherein the at least one middle edgecomprises at least two edges.